Berhampur: A local court Thursday sentenced a youth to life imprisonment after convicting him of double murder linked to post-panchayat election violence in Nabarangpur village under Digapahandi police limits of Ganjam district in 2022. The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ-III) Bibaswat Gautam convicted the prime accused, Bijay Gouda alias Toofan, 26, for the murders and sentenced him to life imprisonment. They were allegedly attacked by members of the rival group and hacked to death with swords and knives on the village road. The then investigating officer, Deepti Ranjan Behera, arrested the prime accused Bijay June 19, 2022. The other accused Mayur, who had fled, was later arrested from Mumbai and produced before the court.